The city was in a rush.
Everyone wanted to go somewhere, be somewhere, to feel that what they were doing was meaningful.
Some were enjoying life, some were suffering, but all were moving forward—caught in the same relentless current.
And then, something stopped everyone.
No one rushed. No one pushed.
All stood still, staring at the sky, where it seemed as if the heavens themselves were falling apart.
Something had entered the Earth's atmosphere without warning.
Even though it was broad daylight, the sky shimmered with a beautiful yet terrifying meteor shower. It was dazzling… and horrifying.
Three Months Later
"Are you alright, man?" Fardin asked.
"I don't know, man. I don't know."
Nabil's hands trembled as he sank into the chair, unable to look up. "I mean… I knew this would happen. I thought I was ready. But still… I don't know, man. I don't know."
Fardin tried his best to console him.
"Just let her go, bro. She's gone, and nothing you do will change that."
"Sometimes I think I've gone soft… Maybe I should just kill everyone around her."
"Don't say something that stupid. You know who she's with. I heard the bastard's a relative of an Alpha."
"Fuck Alphas. Fuck humans. I had it all—I had everything I ever wanted. Why the fuck did the world have to change so drastically? This isn't normal. None of this should've happened."
"Calm down, man. Just… go home. Rest. Get some sleep."
Frustrated, Nabil didn't reply. He only shook Fardin's hand and started walking home.
The world wasn't the way it was supposed to be.
The world was meant for humans to live in.
Or so Nabil thought to himself.
He remembered how everything had changed.
Once, with his father's wealth and reputation, he stood near the top of the food chain. Money. Respect. Power. He had it all.
Now he had nothing.
Why?
Because of that one incident—the incident that changed everything.
That cursed day, as most humans would later call it, began when unknown objects entered Earth's atmosphere.
No space agency detected them. Not a single advanced tracking system saw them coming. Despite decades of monitoring the skies, they slipped through unnoticed, like shadows.
And then, they shattered.
Several meteors broke into countless fragments, raining down across the planet.
But they were no ordinary rocks.
When the fragments struck humans, they didn't kill. Instead, they entered their bodies like bullets—and gave them powers far beyond human imagination.
Later, these fragments were named Alpha Stones, and those who carried them became Alphas.
The Alphas changed the world.
They were strong. Even the weakest Alpha could snap human bones like twigs. Though only 3% of humanity became Alphas, their sheer superiority left little room for resistance.
Soon, the world bent to their rule.
Alphas were divided into three categories:
Stone Alphas – gifted with immense physical strength, endurance, and resistance to pain or injury.
Fire Alphas – able to create and control fire at will, granting them flight, enhanced strength, endurance, and fire resistance up to 20,000°C. Physically, however, they were weaker than Stone Alphas.
King Alphas – the strongest of them all.
King Alphas carried the strength of Stones and the flames of Fires, but their true power lay in their eyes.
A deep, royal blue burned within the right eye, known as the Eye of Order. With it, they could impose their will on any living creature within range.
Most Kings cast this power like a wave, an overwhelming area command that spread across streets, armies, or even entire cities—forcing hundreds to their knees with a single word.
But there were rare Kings who could refine their ability.
Not only could they dominate in a wide sweep, but they could also unleash pinpoint orders—a precise command directed at a single target, bypassing all others.
Their range, strength, and precision depended on their energy reserve. The greater the energy stored within their Alpha Stone, the farther their voice could reach and the tighter their control became.
In short, a King Alpha was more than a warrior.
He was a ruler by nature, able to strip free will itself with nothing but a glance.
History remembered the first King Alpha clearly. With one sweeping order, he commanded an entire battalion of soldiers to turn their blades on themselves. Tens of thousands of men died that night without resistance.
Only men ever awakened as King Alphas.
But soon, a new species emerged.
Queen Alphas—women whose bodies were weaker than Stones, Fires, and Kings, but whose glowing eyes could nullify the commands of Kings if their own Alpha Stone held enough energy.
Together, Kings and Queens reshaped governments.
Most countries became authoritarian, ruled by their strongest King Alpha. Kings either handpicked governors—or allowed them to be chosen through mock "democracy."
And so, the world order changed.
In time, Alphas formalized their dominance into law.
A brutal system was born:
The Challenge and Claim.
If two Alphas fought under the supervision of a King, the victor could claim anything the loser legally owned—money, property, titles, even the lives of family members. Nothing was off-limits.
Thinking of all this, Nabil finally returned home. He collapsed onto his bed, but sleep refused to come. His mind raced, trapped in a storm of anger and regret.
"Come have dinner," his mother called softly from the other room.
"I'm not hungry," he replied, his voice sharp with frustration.
The night stretched on endlessly. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of a world that had left him behind. Not once did sleep visit his eyes.
By morning, his father left for work as usual. Nabil, restless and drained, stepped outside. He walked aimlessly through the narrow lanes of his neighborhood, his thoughts circling the same pit of hatred.
That day, his friends called him. They wanted to meet up. At first he refused—he didn't want to face anyone—but eventually, tired of being alone, he gave in.
When he arrived, they sat together, laughing half-heartedly, trying to find comfort in old habits. But the mood of the crowd around them shifted suddenly. Shouts erupted.
"An Alpha!"
"Look, an Alpha!"
Excitement surged through the street like fire. Everyone rushed toward the source.
Nabil's heart sank as he turned and saw him.
The Alpha was tall, broad-shouldered, and walked with a confidence that drew every eye. His physique was powerful, his presence commanding. Cheers and admiration followed him like a wave.
And Nabil recognized him instantly.
John.
The same John who used to be the shortest in their class. The same John who was mocked for his clumsy mistakes, his idiocy, his weakness.
The same John that Nabil himself had once humiliated.
And now—John was no longer that boy. He was a Stone Alpha. His body radiated strength, his every step earning the love and respect of the crowd. The people who once mocked him now worshiped him as he was also a model now that gained him his popularity.
John's eyes scanned the crowd, basking in the attention, until they fell upon Nabil. Recognition flashed across his face. His grin widened.
The once-bullied stood above the once-prideful.
Hatred, deep and venomous, swelled in Nabil's chest. His pride screamed, his fists clenched. To see John—a man he once crushed underfoot—now walking as if he were a king, adored by all, while Nabil himself stood forgotten in the corner…
It was unbearable.
Excuse me for a minute, guys.
John left the crowd and came to greet his old friends. "How have you all been? It's great to see you, guys."
Others greeted John, but Nabil only shrugged. John patted Nabil on the shoulder, looking happy and glad—but Nabil wanted none of that. Is he mocking me? What gave him the idea that I was his friend? Nabil thought. He looked at John with eyes filled with anger. Even though John was an Alpha now, he couldn't shake the fear he had once put into John's heart.
Backing away, John returned to his fans. "What a rude bastard!" someone muttered nearby. Everyone noticed Nabil glaring at the Alpha. "John is such a humble person," another voice said. "None of us would even dare to make a face in front of an Alpha."
John felt a flush of shame. His pride stung; he said nothing and left with his assistants as the crowd swelled. I am an Alpha—how dare he mock me like that. He will pay for this, John thought.
"What happened, man? He was just being nice." Aaron offered Nabil a smoke and tried to calm him.
Nabil sat with an emotionless face, though anger seethed underneath. "I'm going home," he said and walked away.
"Wait, man—what's the matter?" Aaron exclaimed.
"Let him go," Fardin held Aaron back. "I tried my best, but he even refuses to be with his friends. There's nothing more we can do. Let him get some alone time; he'll be fine."
Aaron nodded slowly. "I don't think he will recover—not after everything that's happened to him in just a few months."
On his way home, Nabil's eyes filled with tears. "Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to deserve all of this? Can't you see I'm suffering so much?" he muttered, staring at the sky.
"You're home so early. Did something happen?" his mother asked.
"Nothing. I'm just sick of being around people."
"Don't be like that. I was about to call—you know, your dad wants you to go to the Officers' Club."
"The Officers' Club?" Nabil exclaimed.
"Yeah. Do you remember Amanuel?" his mother prompted.
"Amanuel who?"
"You're such a forgetful person. Amanuel Stan—son of Michael Stan. Your father's good friend."
"So what? Why do I have to meet him?"
"I heard he's an Alpha now. How exciting. Your dad wanted you there. Keeping connections with an Alpha is important. Get ready and go."
"Right now? Mom, please—not now. I'm sick of these Alphas. I don't need to meet any more of these anomalies."
"Shut up and go, or your dad will be angry," his mother snapped, then sent him to his room to get ready.
Standing in front of the Officers' Club, Nabil tried to keep his face calm. What a great honor it is to be a member of the Officers' Club, he thought with a bitter smile. My parents will never have this honor. He tried to enter, but a guard stopped him at the gate.
"What business do you have here, sir?" the guard asked.
"Mr. Michael is in. I'm here to meet him."
"Everyone here came to meet him—but what business do you have here?" the guard persisted.
Nabil's jaw tightened. He called his father. "Where are you?"
"I'm inside. I'll come get you."
When his father arrived he demanded, "Let him in."
"I'm sorry, sir, we have protocols—"
"This young man is my guest."
The guard held his ground. "We can't let just anyone in. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Nabil's father lowered his voice, embarrassed, and went inside to speak with Michael. "Michael! Help me out here, my son is outside and the security won't let him in." Michael stepped out, flustered at the interruption.
"Excuse us for a moment, everyone," Michael said, then turned to the guard. "Why aren't you letting this young man in? He is my guest."
"We must follow protocol, sir," the guard replied. After a tense moment, they relented and let Nabil into the club.
"Ah, sorry you had to face that," Michael laughed a little sheepishly. "You know how precious Alphas are to the government."
Nabil walked among them, but rage filled him: Only if I were an Alpha too, he thought. Inside, Michael was treated like an honored guest. Nabil's father stood by him like a dutiful side character. All Nabil could do was watch.
Then he saw Amanuel—laughing, basking in attention.
"Come, let me introduce you two," Michael said, guiding them forward.
"I'm fine, Dad. You guys carry on," Nabil tried to say, but his father grasped his hand and steered him toward Amanuel.
"Amanuel," his father said. "Hi, uncle—how have you been?" Amanuel greeted Michael.
"Nice to meet you—" Michael began, then turned to Nabil. "Meet Nabil—my so—"
"Hey there, champ. I heard you're going to be—" Amanuel's voice trailed as the crowd buzzed. The moment fizzled; Amanuel was already swept into conversation. He was the celebrity.
Nabil's father's face tightened—he knew this display would sting Nabil—and a quiet dread crept through him. I hope he doesn't do anything stupid, he thought.
Before his father could react, something snapped in Nabil.
"Are all of you Alphas just retarded or what?!" Nabil shouted.
Silence crashed over the room. Eyes snapped to him. His father froze. Murmurs rippled: Is he insane? The room held its breath.
"Are you talking to me, little man?" Amanuel asked, stepping forward.
"So you're not retarded, then. Why did you leave in the middle of a conversation?" Nabil shot back.
Amanuel's face darkened. He strode up to Nabil, voice low and dangerous. "Listen—whoever you think you are, you're making a grave mistake. I won't think twice before shutting you up forever."
Nabil had no real sense of how strong Alphas were. He was still deluded, thinking he could stand a chance. He glared at Amanuel, reckless and furious.
"Stop fighting, you guys," Michael pushed Amanuel away, trying to smooth the scene. "Young souls… Haha. You shouldn't joke like this in front of everyone."
The crowd's tension eased and conversation drifted elsewhere.
"I'm sorry, Michael. You know him—he's always like this. His mouth has no filter—"
"I don't want your excuses. Get him out of here," Michael said sharply, the hurt and embarrassment in his voice plain. He turned away.
"Let's go," Michael said to Nabil, voice curt.
Nabil followed in silence. Outside, his father finally exploded. "You had to say that? You had to disrespect him—of all people?"
"What?" Nabil asked. "You had to become like this, Dad? Why are you listening to them? They're nothing—why do you care?"
"Are you still in a delusion?" his father shouted. "Do you know what Amanuel has become? Do you have any idea what status an Alpha holds? What would you have done if he'd decided to break your bones?"
Nabil's chest stung. The words hit him like blows, but they weren't the kind he expected. Anger and shame tangled together
They went home in silence.
That night, Nabil could not sleep. Every moment replayed in his head—Michael's curt dismissal, Amanuel's arrogance, his father's bowed head. His chest burned with shame.
They looked down on my dad. They treated him like nothing.
He paced his room, fists clenched, the humiliation digging deeper with every breath. The world worshiped Alphas, while men like his father were left to stand in their shadows.
If this world won't give me honor… then I'll take it for myself.
The thought flickered like a coal in his chest—small, but alive. And Nabil knew it would only grow.